AgReliant Genetics has named Sarah Oznick vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. She will lead the company's legal and compliance departments. Oznick joined AgReliant in 2016 and was promoted to deputy general counsel in 2018. She previously served as associate general counsel at TCS Education System.

Westfield-based AgReliant Genetics has named Vanessa Baughman chief financial officer, vice president of finance. She will also be a member of AgReliant Genetics' operating committee and participate in strategic and operational planning and decisions. Baughman has more than 25 years of finance and accounting experience.

DowDuPont has announced the senior leaders of the independent companies that will be created following the separation of its Agriculture (Corteva Agriscience) and Specialty Products (DuPont) Divisions, which is expected to occur by June 1, 2019. The senior leaders of Corteva Agriscience include: James Collins Jr. (pictured), CEO; Greg Friedman, executive vice president, chief financial officer and Cornel Fuerer, senior vice president, general counsel.

The Indiana Soybean Alliance, the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the Indiana Corn Growers Association have named Dave Blower Jr. news and media relations manager. For more than 18 years, he has worked as senior editor of the Farm World newspaper, a weekly publication that serves the farmers of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture has named Jordan Seger deputy director. He has been with ISDA since 2011 and was director of the Division of Soil Conservation. Seger previously worked with the National Park Service in Maine and Alaska, and the Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. He holds a bachelor's degree in Public Affairs from Indiana University. 

Superior Ag has appointed Becky Newlin controller. She has an extensive background in finance and has served as senior director of finance at United Benefits Advisors in Chicago since 2013. Newlin has also served as an accounting manager for well-established companies since 1999.

Huntingburg-based Superior Ag has added Bart Schnur as warehouse supervisor and quality control & compliance lead at its new feed mill in Dale. His agricultural background includes animal nutrition and farm management.

AgriNovus Indiana, the state's initiative to advance the agbiosciences, has announced Beth Bechdol, who has served as president and CEO in a contract capacity since it began in 2015, will now take on that role full-time. Bechdol had split her time between AgriNovus with her role at Ice Miller LLP, where she served as director of agribusiness strategies. Also, Bridget O’Reilly has been named digital media manager.

Huntingburg-based Superior Ag has promoted Danny Hoffman to feed mill plant manager for the Dale Feed Mill Facility, which is scheduled to begin production in late May. In his new role, he will continue to serve customers who do business at the Jasper Feed Mill, along with the responsibilities of operations for the new feed mill, including safety, receiving, manufacturing, delivery, quality, cost and employee relations.

Indianapolis-based architectural and interior design firm arcDESIGN has promoted Alonso Arambula to principal. He joined the company as a graduate architect in 2009 and became a registered architect three years later. As principal, Arambula will also lead the strategic direction on technology for the firm.

The Soy Aquaculture Alliance has named Andy Tauer as executive director. He had been serving in the role on an interim basis. Tauer also previously served as director of livestock & aquaculture for the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council. He has worked with industry partners to grow value-added soybean demand through increased livestock and aquaculture in the state of Indiana. 

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture has hired Jeff Cummins as director of the Division of Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs. Katie Nelson will serve as program manager. Cummins graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Communications, and from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law. Nelson graduated this past December from the University of Missouri with a bachelor's degree in Political Science.

Muncie-based Jay Crew has promoted Cheryl Crabtree to relationship manager. She will also market the company's full-service commercial landscape management to potential clients and oversees various special project management duties. Crabtree, a graduate of Ball State University, began working for the flower maintenance team in 2012.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture has named Linda Forler (pictured) Hoosier Homestead Award program manager and Ian Connor (pictured) deputy communications director. Also, Dakota Shepard has been appointed field auditor.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture's Indiana Grown initiative has named Heather Tallman (pictured) member development program manager. She founded her own food media company, Kitchen Sink Media Inc. Also, Julie Golliher and Jen Desormier have joined the Indiana Grown team as representatives. Golliher previously co-managed her family farm in Cambridge City. Desormier’s background includes sales and customer relationship management.

The National FFA Organization says Strategic Communications Director Bill Stagg will retire at the end of the month.  A graduate of Virginia Tech, he began his career with the organization in Alexandria, Virginia in 1978. For 38 years, Stagg has been dedicated to living the FFA motto, "Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve."

Hamilton County-based Reynolds Farm Equipment has promoted Chief Marketing Officer Mitch Frazier (pictured) to chief executive officer and Angela Hungate, owner Gary Reynolds' daughter and a 30-year company veteran, has been promoted to president. Gary will transition to chairman of the board once Frazier takes the helm.

Traders Point Creamery has appointed Mark Vander Kooy its first chief executive officer. Vander Kooy has more than 25 years of experience in creating, managing and growing revenue in a variety of industries. In 2001, he founded Asset Forwarding Corp., providing electronic recycling services to corporate clients. After a successful acquisition, Vander Kooy founded T-9Group and has acquired Indy Express.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, launched Indiana's first Market Reporting Program. Gordon Lowry was appointed director of the program. He was recently hired by ISDA and is certified through USDA as a market reporter. Lowry graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor's degree in Animal Sciences and has more than 40 years of experience in the livestock industry.

Midwest Fertilizer Co. LLC has appointed Les Wright interim president and chief executive officer. He replaces Mike Chorlton who announced his retirement from the company. Chorlton will remain involved with the fertilizer manufacturing company as a consultant. In addition to serving as interim president and CEO, Wright will remain chief financial officer for the company.

Crawfordsville-based Bane-Welker Equipment LLC has hired three precision farming specialists: Nick Betz, Jared Myers and Nate Martin. Betz will focus on the Pendleton market. Myers will cover the Lebanon market. Martin will work the Terre Haute market.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture has made two promotions within the Indiana Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency. Ed Sheldon has been named director, and Jacob Frazier was appointed audit manager.

Superior Ag Resources has added to its leadership team. Bob Calles has been named branch manager for the Petersburg location. He most recently managed two facilities for Crop Production Services. Nick Michel (pictured) was promoted to grain division manager. He will continue to serve customers at the Princeton and Huntingburg grain locations. Megan Hasenour was named marketing & communications specialist.

The Indiana FFA Organization has announced its officers for the upcoming year. The seven selected were confirmed on the final day of the 87th state convention. The officers were chosen from a group of their peers. This year's convention has taken place this week at Purdue University. The officers will serve a one-year term.

AgriNovus Indiana has hired Libby Fritz (pictured) as communications and engagement manager. She has managed events, media relations and communications for the Indiana State Fair Commission, Indiana State Department of Agriculture and Kelsay Farm Tours.

West Lafayette-based FieldWatch Inc. has named Stephanie Regagnon chief executive officer. She currently serves as president of AGR Advisors LLC in St. Louis. Regagnon also previously held executive positions with companies including Monsanto and Waste Management. She also helped form and launch the Honey Bee Health Coalition.

The Indianapolis-based National FFA Organization and the National FFA Foundation have named Mark Poeschl chief executive officer. He will lead both organizations beginning August 1. Poeschl currently serves as a vice president at Cargill Animal Nutrition in Ohio. He is also a former FFA member and former state FFA president from Nebraska.

Amy Berg, an associate with Ice Miller LLP's Food and Agribusiness Group, has been selected for Class 17 of the Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program through the AgrIInstitute. She previously worked as a project manager in the State Cleanup Section of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management Office of Land Quality.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has elected Joe Baldwin to the Nominating Committee. The NPPC uses a Nominating Committee to seek candidates for appointment to the NPPC leadership positions. He holds a management position with Maxwell Farms of Indiana, located in Hagerstown.

AgriNovus Indiana, a Central Indiana Corp. Partnership sector initiative for the agbiosciences sector, has expanded its executive steering committee to 20 members. Five stakeholders who will serve on the committee include: Steven Braun, Sherilyn Emberton, William (Bill) Johnson, Randy Reichmann and Jonathan Weinzapfel. AgriNovus has also developed an Innovation Council.

Indiana State Department of Agriculture's Division of Soil Conservation has hired Jared O'Brien as resource specialist. His office is at the Jasper County USDA Service Center in Rensselaer.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) has promoted David King to director of the Indiana Grown initiative and Suzi Spahr as program manager. King has been with the ISDA since 2014 where he has served as local foods program manager, overseeing programs including Indiana Grown and Food Hubs. Spahr also joined the ISDA in 2014, serving as executive assistant and supporting Indiana Grown's operations.

The Indiana Soybean Alliance Board of Directors has named its 2016 officers. They include: Don Wyss, vice president; Elaine Gillis, secretary; Joe Tuholski, treasurer; Matt Chapman, grain production and utilization committee chair; Jim Douglas, marketing and communication committee chair and Jeanette Merritt, membership and policy committee chair.

Sheridan-based JBS United Inc.Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board John Swisher has been named chairman emeritus. Doug Webel has been appointed president and CEO, and John Corbett has assumed the role of chairman.

Jeanette Merritt has joined Indiana Pork as director of checkoff programs. She is a fourth generation hog and grain farmer in Miami County. Merritt has held numerous positions in the Hoosier agriculture industry, most recently as marketing director for the Indiana Wine industry.